StaceyB

Given the medical problems Gypsy has had over the past 2 months - and the small fortune I've had to fork out in vet bills, I've decided to get Pet Insurance. There are quiet a few companies out there that cover various different things, so I though I's ask all of you what you think of the various companies... Thanks Stacey

Gypsy used to get car sick when she was little, but she has grown out of it now. What you've described sounds more like anxiety though, I've not had any experience with that (Gypsy loved going in the car from day one) but Persephone's suggestions sound pretty good.

You would be best off making sure she has easy access to water at all times.

I think it's all well and good to have a gender preference, but it should really come down to the individual pup and the temperament. I would prefer a male pup for my next dog, but that is because I already have a female and I've heard the dynamics are better with a male/female mix, but if there is a pup better suited to us I will not turn it down because it's a girl.

Yeah I had a funny feeling about it, and I figured if it was infected the sooner I got her on AB's the better. She looks so pathetic now, and everyone is laughing at her

We just got back from the vet, and I'm glad I decided to take her tonight. She has an ulcer on her eye, we've been given some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops and the vet wants to see her again on Wednesday. She also has a victorian collar to stop any rubbing. If there is no improvement she will have to be sedated so the vet can have a good look under the eye lids and see if there is anything else there. On the up side, we got a lovely Rogz collar for $10 and matching lead for $15 because her normal collar wont go through the victorian collar.

I always make Gypsy sit before we cross the road when I walk her. When she is out in the front yard with OH or I she is fine, but when the little monster escapes (we have found out where she is getting out and fixed it now) she goes off by herself.

I've booked her into the local vet this evening to just make sure she's ok. She is outside today while we are at work, but our yard has a huge tree with plenty of shade for her and she has access to our patio with is completely enclosed and undercover, so she has no shortage of places to hide from bright light - but our house mate will be home from work very soon and he will let her in.

Thanks RiverStar. I've just had a chat to the vet over the phone, she think I should keep up with washing it regularly and see if she gets any better over the next 2 or 3 days - if she gets worse take her in ASAP and take her in if there is no change by Wednesday night. She thinks that as long as the pus has cleared up it looks like any infection is starting to clear up on it's own. I might still try to get an appointment at the local vets, I've never used them before, but the normal vet a fair way from home and it means Gypsy has to stay in all day while I'm at work and it's a pain to get appointments because I'm supposed to start work at 8 and the vet doesn't open till 8.30, and the after hours office won't make appointments for the general practice.

Hi Guys, Another Gypsy problem... she seems to have a bit of conjunctivitis. I noticed late on Friday night that there was a bit of pus and weeping coming from one of her eyes, I had a closer look and she had some sand in her eye which is what I think has caused it. My vet was closed all weekend so I just got some saline solution from the chemist (for eyes and wounds) and I have been cleaning her eye regularly all weekend. The weeping and pus has improved a lot since then and there is hardly any now, but she is still a bit light sensitive and very bloodshot in the eye. So my question is, should I take her to the vet or, given the improvement, should I just keep doing what I'm doing and don't worry about taking her to the vet? I really hate seeing her like this, all squinty and pathetic, but she does seem to be getting better... Thanks Stacey

Just got home from the vets. No kidney stones. Looks like the muscles around the opening of Gypsys bladder are not strong enough so they have given her Propalin at a low dosage to see if that helps. She said there was nothing in the X-rays or ultrasound to explain the blood, crystals or odd ph levels so they are going to test again in about 2 months to see if there are any changes.

Are they doing a test for hormonal incontinence too? I'm not too sure about that, I'll ask them when I drop Gyps off tomorrow morning. The blood, crystals and PH level indicate something else, but that may still be a factor as she hasn't been incontinent since last week and it was only for a few days. Thanks for all the support and well wishes guys!

Maybe he has some dust or something stuck in his nose that you wouldn't be able to see... Sorry I can't be much help, but good luck figuring it out!

Well she doesn't have any urine/bladder infections. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow and they are going to get some Xrays and do an ultrasound .

Naawww, thats so sweet! I love the beach one too! Thats just hilarious!

If it's a vet hospital there is generally someone there overnight to keep an eye on things, but yes, a bit redundant if no-one is there anyway. Gypsy was given a pain killer injection half an hour before I picked her up. She was still pretty groggy but didn't have any vomiting. Is there a 24hr place you can call and just see what they say?

She could also have bladder stones. It could be, an ultrasound will pick that up wont it? She has just been vomiting and had a bit of diarrhea, I called the vets and they said to keep an eye on her tonight and just give her a very bland dinner, but if it gets worse we can take her in as they are 24 hour for emergencies. Otherwise I will bring her into work with me tomorrow (my vet is on the same site as work - very convenient) and board her until an available appointment. She seems happy enough at the moment, she's currently running around the yard with a squeaky toy, and showing no signs at all of being distressed. Damn, I don't think I've ever been this worried!

We have her basic tests back, there was no bacteria but they are testing the cultures to see if there is anything hiding they couldn't detect before. There was a lot of blood in the sample they took and there were also some crystals. If the cultures come back clear they will be doing an ultrasound to see what is going on, but the vet suggested that she may have a birth defect with her bladder.

Another DOLer said, in a thread I started, that she has some of the plastic backed picnic blankets for her dog. They still need to be washed everyday, but at least it stops the urine getting onto anything else.

Oooh, poor babies! Thats looks very unpleasent. I don't have any suggestions, but good luck with them!

Given her age is it possible she is starting to get a bit adolescent? That could be part of why she's acting up a bit as far as commands go....

Gypsy's a mongrel, not from a breeder. I joined DOL after I get her and I had no idea about a lot of what happens in the dog world. I was on of those people who just though that if you want a pet dog you just look in the newspaper and get one - Now I know better.

We went to the Vet this arvo, she thinks that given Gypsy's history and the type for UTI she's had it is probably a re-occurrence of that. Gyps is going in to spend the day on Monday so they can get a urine sample and get the cultures done straight away. She said if it's not the UTI again it could be spay incontinence so they will check it out if the urine sample is clear.

Do you feed her late at night? I found with my dogs that if I feed them after 7.00pm, I am up all night with them to take them out. Now I feed around 4.30pm and 5.30pm and it has been fine. They sleep all night. I normally feed her between 5.30 - 6.30pm, except on Wednesday nights when we go to training and she gets fed at about 8.30 - 9pm when we get home. She is normally really go at holding on all night and we've never had a problem before.

Have a look at this Benny 123, I found it on a google search as an alternative to Propalin.